Mitochondrial function is dependent upon mitochondrial protein import (MPI), a complex process that transports nuclear-encoded proteins into mitochondria. Little is known about MPI in neurons. We examined the effects of Resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic antioxidant compound from grapes, on MPI in a neuronal cell model, differentiated PC12 cells. RSV (50µM, 24h) increased levels of mtGFP, a nuclear encoded mitochondrially targeted green fluorescent protein, and mtHsp70, a physiological mitochondrial heat shock protein, in mitochondria. In addition RSV also increased levels of Tom20, a key translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The RSV mediated increases in mitochondrial proteins were independent of increases in mitochondrial mass or changes in intramitochondrial degradation. RSV also reduced mitochondria membrane potential and decreased basal levels of reactive oxygen species. Taken together, these findings show that RSV increases MPI and that this effect may be an important mechanism in the reported neuroprotective effects of RSV.

Mitochondrial function is dependent upon mitochondrial protein import (MPI), a complex process that transports nuclear-encoded proteins into mitochondria. Little is known about MPI in neurons. We examined the effects of Resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic antioxidant compound from grapes, on MPI in a neuronal cell model, differentiated PC12 cells. RSV (50µM, 24h) increased levels of mtGFP, a nuclear encoded mitochondrially targeted green fluorescent protein, and mtHsp70, a physiological mitochondrial heat shock protein, in mitochondria. In addition RSV also increased levels of Tom20, a key translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The RSV mediated increases in mitochondrial proteins were independent of increases in mitochondrial mass or changes in intramitochondrial degradation. RSV also reduced mitochondria membrane potential and decreased basal levels of reactive oxygen species. Taken together, these findings show that RSV increases MPI and that this effect may be an important mechanism in the reported neuroprotective effects of RSV.

Obesity is associated with greater rates of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia and dysfunctional lipid metabolism. Exercise may provide an effective therapeutic tool to ameliorate dyslipidemia. However, how exercise attenuates dyslipidemia with obesity is not fully understood. Additionally, whether acute exercise or exercise training is the primary driver of such changes in this population is unknown. Furthermore, mechanisms mediating these exercise responses are not elucidated. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) provide a likely mechanism through enhanced expression of oxidative metabolism and cholesterol transport proteins augmenting fatty acid oxidation and cholesterol transport. Study one describes blood lipid and lipoprotein responses to acute aerobic exercise and exercise training in obese men and women. The primary measured effects include: increased HDL-C in men following 12 wks exercise training, and a shift from HDL3-C to HDL2-C, with concomitantly reduced HDL-C mean density and LDL3-C in women. Acute exercise of 400 kcal duration performed before and after training, yielded a decreased TC: HDL-C ratio in men, which was unaffected by training. Thus, the primary exercise-based treatment for dyslipidemia with obesity appears to be exercise training. In study two, PPARδ and PGC-1α content were significantly enhanced after acute exercise, whereas PPARα and AMPKα content were augmented only after training. These effects were seen with concomitantly increased content of target proteins involved in oxidative and lipoprotein metabolism including lipoprotein lipase, CPT-I, COX-IV, and FAT/CD36. PPARδ expression was correlated with total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. AMPKα expression was correlated with the concentration of HDL-C and its subfractions, suggesting regulation of blood cholesterols by PPARδ and AMPKα. Study three demonstrates comparative responses to high volume resistance exercise (RE) in lean and obese Zucker rats. RE enhanced PPARδ expression regardless of phenotype, but PGC-1α in obese only. Mitochondrial biogenesis was enhanced in lean animals only, indicating PPARδ and PGC-1α content is disconnected from mitochondrial biogenesis with obesity. These studies enhance our understanding of exercise as a therapeutic tool in treating dyslipidemia and dysregulated lipid metabolism often associated with obesity. They further demonstrate the necessity for exercise training to attenuate dyslipidemia, while illustrating PPAR-mediated augmentations in oxidative and lipoprotein metabolism following exercise with obesity.

Abstracts Capricornis swinhoei is one of the indangered wild animals in Taiwan. The objective of this study is using molecular biology and morphology methods to analyze the genetic diversity, observed population structure, differentiation and biogeographic relationships among the population of Capricornis swinhoei. Samples used in this study were collected from the Central Mountains located in Taiwan. DNA sequences (1099 bp) from the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, D-loop, were used to test the phylogeographic relationships among the Capricornis swinhoei. A phylogenetic tree was constructed on the basis of GCG-Seq Web and MEGA softwares. In addition, distance analyses, neighbor-join, and maximum parsimony to resolve these phylogenetic relationships were performed. The C. sumatraensis and C. crispus sequence were also determined and used as the outgroups. Our findings clearly demonstrate that Capricornis swinhoei can be clustered into two groups, north and south groups, and consistent with the truth of geographic isolation. The data obtained from this study may facilitate the program of wildlife conservation in Taiwan.

Antrodia camphorata is a Taiwan-unique fungus which grows on the walls inside the core of decayed Cinnamomum kanehirae. Antrodia camphorata provides many bioactive substance and it is cultivated mainly via mycelium nowadays. First section of this research is focused on Antrodia camphorata (CCRC-35716) in liquid cultivation medium and the changes within extracellular polysaccharides, trierpenoids, pH and growth. It also uses HPLC to analyze the differences of mycelium triterpenoids. This experiment showed when Antrodia camphorata was cultivated in PDB liquid medium for 14 days; it had the highest extracellular polysaccharides (0.23

Complete DNA sequences were determined for the mitochondrial (mt) genomes of the sea anemones, Mesactinia genesis ¡]20,544 bp¡^, Heteractis aurora (19,800 bp) and partial mtDNA between cox2 and nad4 of the Calliactis sp. (3,713 bp). In addition, complete mtDNA sequences were determined for the sea squirt, Eudistoma gilboviride (14,203 bp). The circular, sea anemones genomes contain the genes for 13 energy pathway proteins and two ribosomal RNAs and two transfer RNAs. H. aurora contains a previously undescribed ORF between the cox2 and nad4 genes encoding a putative protein of 646 amino acids. In M. geneisis and Calliactis sp. encodes two separate smaller ORFs of 259 and 243 as well as 269 and 345 in the corresponding regions, respectively. Possible control region of the mitochondrial genomes of M. geneisis and H. aurora were identified in the intergenic region 13. The sea squirt genomes contain the genes for 11 energy pathway proteins and two rRNAs and 22 tRNAs. All genes are encoded by the heavy strand, except for trnM, trnK, and trnV, which are encoded by the light strand. The ascidians showed frequent and extensive gene rearrangement. The gene order in E. gilboviride are very much different from the other ascidians mt-genome. The E. gilboviride mtDNA does not encode the nad6 and a tpyical atp8. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the deuterostome (echinoderms, chordate and Xenoturbella), and cnidaria coincide with the morphological characters.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-212). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 164, p.: ill. (some col.). Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Paul W. Sciulli, Dept. of Anthropology. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-160).

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 17, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. R. Lee Lyman. Includes bibliographical references.

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